Andrew King, director of Speak for the Unborn and Ph.D. student at Southern Seminary, speaks at an Aug. 22 protest in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Louisville.
A significant contingent of students, faculty, and staff of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary bolstered 500 pro-life protesters at Louisville’s Planned Parenthood office, Aug. 22.
The protest was part of a nationwide effort in 320 cities to bring public attention to the nation’s leading abortion provider in the wake of eight undercover videos released since July by the Center for Medical Progress. The videos, which have led to federal and state investigations of the abortion giant, show Planned Parenthood officials and others associated with the group casually discussing the selling organs of aborted children, and perhaps even babies born alive.
Dylan Harrington, a graduate of Boyce College’s Worldview Certificate Program, organized the Louisville protest under the auspices of his Ohio-based pro-life group, Created Equal.
“Each community with a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, satellite clinic, or office needs to take action against the killing of babies and the trafficking of their aborted baby parts,” Harrington said in a news release announcing the protest.
Jario Namnun, an M.Div. student, stands with his wife, Patricia, at the Planned Parenthood protest.
“We should not be opposed to protesting,” Harrington told the crowd that clogged both sides of the sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood office on Second Street in downtown Louisville, which does not perform abortions.
Harrington told Southern Seminary News organizers counted 500 pro-life protesters.
Other participants in the two-hour-long, peaceful protest included the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, Students for Life of the Appalachians, Silent No More Louisville, Sisters for Life, Right to Life of Owensboro, Pleasantville Community Church, Knights of Columbus, and Speak for the Unborn, led by Southern Seminary Ph.D. student Andrew King.
Calling defense of Planned Parenthood in the wake of the undercover videos “truly chilling,” King said, “Let’s be clear: When we hear talk of tissue donation we must realize that before there is any tissue to donate, there is a life that must be taken.”
King said he did not participate in the event standing on a political platform or ideology, even adding, “I do not stand here ultimately as member of a pro-life movement.”
Rather, he continued, “I stand here as a follow of Jesus Christ,” emphasizing that God’s grace is available to both those who are pro-choice and pro-life.
“We must stand not just against Planned Parenthood and organizations like it,” King concluded. “Rather, we must stand against a culture of death armed with a gospel that gives life.”
Speak for the Unborn does sidewalk counseling in front of Louisville’s sole abortion clinic — EMW Women’s Surgical Center — each week seeking to persuade women to not abort their unborn children.
“I know you’re closed today, but I know you’ve got people listening,” Angela Minter of Sisters for Life said, facing the Planned Parenthood clinic. She then led the group chanting, “Defund Planned Parenthood,” a common refrain during the event.
The pro-life protest was briefly disrupted by two pro-Planned Parenthood demonstrators who yelled repeatedly, “Pro-life, that’s a lie; you don’t care if women die!”
Following speeches by leaders of the participating organizations, the throng of protesters marched around the block and concluded in a time of prayer.
Sean Perron, a Master of Divinity student who participated with his wife, Jennifer, said after the event, “I was able to talk with two young mothers from the neighboring community who had not heard that Planned Parenthood was selling baby parts. I am hopeful that the protest raised awareness about the deception of Planned Parenthood.”
Timothy Keiser, a Ph.D. student, tweeted, “Hundreds singing, ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children’” in front of Planned Parenthood “was one of the best moments” of the Louisville protest.
